Originally posted 8/2009 ~In order to heal, Shamans routinely permeate boundaries; boundaries of mind and body, boundaries between consciousness and sub-consciousness, space and time, people and circumstances, humans and nature, and between matter and spirit.

Shamans show us that what we experience as our separate self is illusionary – they teach us to give birth to a truer sense of who we are and to recognize our connection to all things. When we recognize our interconnectedness, we make business decisions from a holistic vs a compartmentalized view.

On the world stage, we are going through a collective shamanic healing process, a genuine death/rebirth experience. As Paul Levy, writes “our species and its civilization are currently in the throes of a collective nervous breakdown. If what we as a species, are doing to ourselves (destroying the biosphere, the very life-support system of the planet, to use one example) isn’t collective madness, then what in the world is? Our underlying institutionalized and incorporated structures that are helping to keep us asleep are breaking down and coming apart. The false, illusory separate self, which experiences ourselves as alien from one another is dying as is the fundamental framework by which we relate to each other and the world. As we recreate ourselves we awaken to our deep interconnection and interdependence with each other and all living beings.”

Interconnection and interdependence awakening are transcendent boundary breakers. Recreating ourselves and redesigning business frameworks from this expanded space is exciting…..and challenging. Relying on our innate Shamanic abilities such as going within, deep listening and relying on intuition will assist us in meeting the challenge. As awakening evolves, we come to recognize that we are all Shamans sharing sacred space. (Edited post from August 2009)

Fundamentally, community to me means hanging out with people who like me and I like them. Naturally, you know what one another does for a living and, if appropriate, refer and suggest and help out each other.

Thanks to the internet we have offline, as well as access to online global community. I agree with Glen Stansberry, cofounder of LifeRemix blog network, that the secret to being a successful entrepreneur is: understanding you need community – yes, and I would take it a step further and say that these days we NEED on-line community. Following is a summary of his recent post on awake@thewheel.

You need help from other people. People who will challenge you and lend you a hand when needed. People who will expand your horizons with their expertise or particular walks of life. Thanks to this thing called The Internet, you can find people and groups to help you in almost any field and variety.

Forums, Google groups, open source projects… there are literally limitless options for finding a community.

Community helps us fill in those little cracks in our life that we can’t fill ourselves.

I dare you to find a successful person that did it “all on their own”. Everyone (yes, even Steve Jobs) has had people in their lives that bring the best out of them, both professionally and personally. Finding and surrounding yourself with these people is going to be critical to your success.

Community also gives us a chance to give

There’s nothing better than receiving and giving. It’s important to note that asking for help is just as important as giving. Oftentimes people feel like they’re being a burden by asking for help. But other people need a way to give back their talents and resources too.

So if you really want to skyrocket your career, find a community to be a part of.

If you can’t find one, then start one within your niche. (All you have to do is ask.) There’s always something you can provide. If anything, you can be encouraging and supportive. (Sometimes the thing a community needs most is more cheerleaders.) The important thing is to just get involved. No man (or woman) is an island.

Marshy and stagnant water’s no cure for thirst
However limpid and delicious it might look;
It’ll only trap you and stop your looking for fresh rivers
That could feed and make flourish a hundred gardens
Just as each piece of false gold prevents you
From recognizing real gold and where to find it.
False gold will only cut your feet and bind your wings,
Saying, “I will remove your difficulties,” when, in fact,
It is only dregs, and defeat in the robes of victory.
Run, my friends, run far away from all false solutions!